From silver Lord Ram mementoes to tribal art, 1,498 gifts presented to PM Modi are now open for public bidding, with proceeds going to the Namami Gange Programme.
If you have ever wondered what happens to the hundreds of gifts and mementoes presented to India’s Prime Minister, the answer is now on public display, and up for bidding.
The eighth edition of the PM Mementos e-Auction has opened with 1,498 items presented to Prime Minister Narendra Modi being offered to citizens, collectors, institutions and art enthusiasts. The auction began on September 17, 2026, and will remain open until October 2 through the official PM Mementos portal.
The collection brings together objects representing India’s art, traditional craftsmanship, cultural practices, spiritual traditions and sporting achievements. For buyers, it offers an unusual opportunity to acquire an object that was presented to the Prime Minister while also supporting a national environmental programme.
A Collection That Spans India
The catalogue covers a striking range of objects and artistic traditions from different parts of the country.
Among the identified 50 Hero Objects is a silver memento of Lord Ram from Karnataka, carrying a base price of ₹13.50 lakh. Other prominent pieces include a silver replica of the Kakatiya Kala Thoranam, priced from ₹9 lakh, a framed Tree of Life Gond art painting with a base price of ₹7.50 lakh, and a Jagannath Parivar on Chariot starting at ₹6 lakh. A 99.99 fine gold-plated framed Radha Krishna artwork has a base price of ₹5.40 lakh.
The collection is not limited to high-value ceremonial pieces. It also showcases everyday objects and regional crafts that reflect India's diverse artistic traditions.
These include a bamboo and cane wall clock from Assam, while other entries feature tribal crafts, handwoven textiles, traditional accessories, sculptures and commemorative objects. The range gives the auction a distinctly pan-India character.
More Than a Collection of Gifts
The significance of the auction lies partly in the stories behind the objects.
The mementoes were presented to the Prime Minister on different occasions by citizens, dignitaries, organisations and representatives from across India. As a result, the catalogue brings together objects connected to different regions, communities, craft traditions, cultural practices and public occasions.
The Ministry of Culture describes the auction as a way of making these mementoes accessible to the public while showcasing India's artistic and cultural diversity. The initiative is organised through the National Gallery of Modern Art (NGMA), New Delhi, under the Ministry of Culture.
There is also a philanthropic dimension. Proceeds from the auction are transferred to the Namami Gange Programme, which supports the conservation and rejuvenation of the Ganga and its ecosystem. Earlier editions have collectively raised more than ₹50 crore for the programme.
How to Participate
The process is conducted online through the official PM Mementos e-Auction portal.
To participate:
- Visit the official PM Mementos e-Auction portal.
- Register using the required details and complete the verification process.
- Browse the catalogue and examine the items available for bidding.
- Place your bid on the memento you wish to acquire.
- If your bid is successful, complete the payment and delivery formalities as specified on the portal.
Official PM Mementos e-Auction Portal
The current auction closes on October 2, 2026.
See the Mementoes Before You Bid
For those who want to see the collection in person, an accompanying exhibition is being held at the National Gallery of Modern Art in New Delhi.
The exhibition allows visitors to view the mementoes before participating in the auction and explore the craftsmanship, artistic traditions and cultural references represented in the collection.
The exhibition is scheduled to remain on display through October 31, 2026.
A Public Auction With a Cultural Purpose
The PM Mementos e-Auction is unusual because it brings together three different elements: public access to objects presented to the Prime Minister, a showcase of India's regional art and craftsmanship, and a fundraising mechanism for the Namami Gange Programme.
For collectors and culture enthusiasts, the catalogue offers objects ranging from relatively accessible price points to high-value artworks and ceremonial pieces. For the wider public, it provides a closer look at the diverse gifts that reach the Prime Minister's office from across India.
With 1,498 mementoes on offer and bidding scheduled to close on October 2, the eighth edition provides a limited window to explore the catalogue and participate in the auction.
If you have ever wondered what happens to the hundreds of gifts and mementoes presented to India’s Prime Minister, the answer is now on public display, and up for bidding.
The eighth edition of the PM Mementos e-Auction has opened with 1,498 items presented to Prime Minister Narendra Modi being offered to citizens, collectors, institutions and art enthusiasts. The auction began on September 17, 2026, and will remain open until October 2 through the official PM Mementos portal.
The collection brings together objects representing India’s art, traditional craftsmanship, cultural practices, spiritual traditions and sporting achievements. For buyers, it offers an unusual opportunity to acquire an object that was presented to the Prime Minister while also supporting a national environmental programme.
A Collection That Spans India
The catalogue covers a striking range of objects and artistic traditions from different parts of the country.
Among the identified 50 Hero Objects is a silver memento of Lord Ram from Karnataka, carrying a base price of ₹13.50 lakh. Other prominent pieces include a silver replica of the Kakatiya Kala Thoranam, priced from ₹9 lakh, a framed Tree of Life Gond art painting with a base price of ₹7.50 lakh, and a Jagannath Parivar on Chariot starting at ₹6 lakh. A 99.99 fine gold-plated framed Radha Krishna artwork has a base price of ₹5.40 lakh.
The collection is not limited to high-value ceremonial pieces. It also showcases everyday objects and regional crafts that reflect India's diverse artistic traditions.
These include a bamboo and cane wall clock from Assam, while other entries feature tribal crafts, handwoven textiles, traditional accessories, sculptures and commemorative objects. The range gives the auction a distinctly pan-India character.
More Than a Collection of Gifts
The significance of the auction lies partly in the stories behind the objects.
The mementoes were presented to the Prime Minister on different occasions by citizens, dignitaries, organisations and representatives from across India. As a result, the catalogue brings together objects connected to different regions, communities, craft traditions, cultural practices and public occasions.
The Ministry of Culture describes the auction as a way of making these mementoes accessible to the public while showcasing India's artistic and cultural diversity. The initiative is organised through the National Gallery of Modern Art (NGMA), New Delhi, under the Ministry of Culture.
There is also a philanthropic dimension. Proceeds from the auction are transferred to the Namami Gange Programme, which supports the conservation and rejuvenation of the Ganga and its ecosystem. Earlier editions have collectively raised more than ₹50 crore for the programme.
How to Participate
The process is conducted online through the official PM Mementos e-Auction portal.
To participate:
- Visit the official PM Mementos e-Auction portal.
- Register using the required details and complete the verification process.
- Browse the catalogue and examine the items available for bidding.
- Place your bid on the memento you wish to acquire.
- If your bid is successful, complete the payment and delivery formalities as specified on the portal.
Official PM Mementos e-Auction Portal
The current auction closes on October 2, 2026.
See the Mementoes Before You Bid
For those who want to see the collection in person, an accompanying exhibition is being held at the National Gallery of Modern Art in New Delhi.
The exhibition allows visitors to view the mementoes before participating in the auction and explore the craftsmanship, artistic traditions and cultural references represented in the collection.
The exhibition is scheduled to remain on display through October 31, 2026.
A Public Auction With a Cultural Purpose
The PM Mementos e-Auction is unusual because it brings together three different elements: public access to objects presented to the Prime Minister, a showcase of India's regional art and craftsmanship, and a fundraising mechanism for the Namami Gange Programme.
For collectors and culture enthusiasts, the catalogue offers objects ranging from relatively accessible price points to high-value artworks and ceremonial pieces. For the wider public, it provides a closer look at the diverse gifts that reach the Prime Minister's office from across India.
With 1,498 mementoes on offer and bidding scheduled to close on October 2, the eighth edition provides a limited window to explore the catalogue and participate in the auction.
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